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HIGH HOPES: Nicola Wilson, pictured above, is involved in the Badminton Horse Trials

MORTON-ON-SWALE'S Nicola Wilson will be among the entries at the world famous Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, where event director Hugh Thomas will be hoping for a trouble free passage this time.

Fears over the firm going at the CCI**** 3 day event led to several riders - including reigning world champion Zara Phillips - pulling out before cross country in 2007.

This year Mr Thomas has made sure there will be no repeat performance, with ground preparations getting under way last June and new measures - including a complete programme of mowing, scarifying, aerating, sanding, seeding and fertilising - that should provide riders with the best possible going, British weather permitting.

That should leave equestrian fans free to concentrate on the competition, and what a competition it should be. Riders will be looking for good performances to impress selectors on the run up to the Beijing Olympics, and a share of the record £278,000 prize money.

Entries have just been announced and nearly 90 horses, representing at least seven countries, will be in action.

Nicola, who will be at Badminton for the seventh time and first competed back in 1999 on Mr Bumble, will ride Opposition Buzz for owner and breeder Rosemary Search.

The 11-year-old horse, who is a mix of Thoroughbred and Trakehner bloodlines and is by the well know sire Fleetwater Opposition, proved his capabilities last year when he finished 16th and jumped a fine clear cross country.

The pair, also 17th at Britian's other four star event at Burghley last autumn, have been in good form on the run up this season and a good place looks a strong possibility.

"He won his 2008 opener at Lincoln one day event and was then 12th in the World Cup qualifier at Burnham Market,"

said Nicola, 31. "He's in very good form - touch wood - and his preparation and training throughout the winter has gone to plan."

The duo have been training with Olympic dressage rider and former Badminton winner Chris Bartle, as a good performance in the opening dressage phase at any three-day-event is vital for success in today's highly competitive climate.

"We always want to do our best and my aim is to improve each time, so a place in the top 15 would be good," Nicola added.

"It's very special just to get to Badminton though."

Ingleby Barwick's Julie Lawson looks to have just missed out on a place at Badminton - she is currently second on the wait list with her 16.3hh bay Howecot Psammite.

Julie, who has ridden at Badminton three times in the past on Irish Skater, the last time in 2002, has had to keep Howecot Psammite fit enough to run in case a chance came up.

Among Nicola's rivals will be 2006 title winners Andrew Hoy and Moon Fleet, competing for Australia, World and European team Champion Zara Philips, on both Ardfield Magic Star and Glenbuck, New Zealand maestro Andrew Nicholson and past winners including William Fox- Pitt, Mary King and Rodney Powell.

Dressage ran yesterday and today, with the cross country on Saturday and show jumping on Sunday. For more details visit www.badminton-horse.co.uk.

1:21pm Friday 2nd May 2008

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